incline

[ verb in-klahyn; noun in-klahyn, in-klahyn ]

verb (used without object)

, in·clined, in·clin·ing.

1. to deviate from the vertical or horizontal; slant.

   Synonyms: pitch, fall, rise, slope, lean

2. to have a mental tendency, preference, etc.; be disposed:

   We incline to rest and relaxation these days.

   Synonyms: lean, tend

3. to tend, in a physical sense; approximate:

   The flowers incline toward blue.

   Synonyms: veer, verge

4. to tend in character or in course of action:

   a political philosophy that inclines toward the conservative.

   Synonyms: veer, verge

5. to lean; bend.

verb (used with object)

, in·clined, in·clin·ing.

1. to dispose (a person) in mind, habit, etc. (usually followed by to ):

   His attitude did not incline me to help him.

2. to bow, nod, or bend (the head, body, etc.):

   He inclined his head in greeting.

3. to cause to lean or bend in a particular direction.

noun

1. an inclined surface; slope; slant.
2. Railroads.
   1. Also called inclined plane,. a cable railroad, the gradient of which is approximately 45°.
   2. any railroad or portion of a railroad, the gradient of which is too steep for ordinary locomotive adhesion alone to be effective.
3. Mining.
   1. an angled shaft following a dipping vein.
   2. an inclined haulageway.

incline

verb

1. to deviate or cause to deviate from a particular plane, esp a vertical or horizontal plane; slope or slant
2. whentr, may take an infinitive to be disposed or cause to be disposed (towards some attitude or to do something)

   he inclines towards levity

   that does not incline me to think that you are right

3. to bend or lower (part of the body, esp the head), as in a bow or in order to listen
4. incline one's ear
   to listen favourably (to)

noun

1. an inclined surface or slope; gradient
2. short for inclined railway

Derived Forms

• inˈcliner, noun

Other Words From

• in·clin·er noun
• o·ver·in·cline verb overinclined overinclining
• re·in·cline verb reinclined reinclining

Word History and Origins

Origin of incline¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English inclinen, from Latin inclīnāre, equivalent to in- in- ² + -clīnāre “to bend” ( lean ¹ ); replacing Middle English enclinen, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of incline¹

C13: from Latin inclīnāre to cause to lean, from clīnāre to bend; see lean ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. incline one's ear, to listen, especially willingly or favorably:

   to incline one's ear to another's plea.

Example Sentences

The authors released a heap of the seeds down an inclined plane while a camera recorded their descent to analyze their speed and the dynamics of their movement.

From Science Daily

If this is a marathon, they’re at the base of Heartbreak Hill and gazing up a steady incline.

From Los Angeles Times

At one point, Trump told CNN: "I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can't say for every single one, because a couple of them, probably they got out of control."

From BBC

This year, voters who were inclined to fill out online polls were more likely to be Democrats, James Johnson of London-based polling firm JL Partners told the Times of London newspaper.

From BBC

Farrow hinted that she’s more inclined to return to her quiet life in Connecticut, though the election has both of them plotting their escape if Donald Trump returns to power.

From Los Angeles Times